7.1 unit with 5.1 speakers

[The Dali]

Hello all - is there an issue with using a 7.1 receiver if you only have 5.1 speakers?

 

[GlocksRock]

Not at all.

 

[BMXTRIX]

You can use 2, 3, 5, or 7 speakers with or without a subwoofer without issue with most receivers that are 7.1. I've never tried just using one speaker, but imagine that may be possible as well.

It's in the manual of the receiver, so you should double check as some of the cheaper receivers may not offer certain flexibility, but I would estimate this to be fine in about 99% of the product on the market.

 

[Shiitaki]

Future expansion

Using only five speakers will work great, just be sure to configure them correctly. If it has a auto setup, it should auto detect them on it's own. You should also know that the extra 2 channels that 7.1 gives you are the ones that go behind you. The surrounds in 5.1 are for placement to the side, and slightly behind you. Also almost all content is 5.1 currently. The receiver has to make up the information for the back 2 channels anyway. The extra channels may be reassignable to other tasks depending on the model.

 

[The Dali]

Thanks! I figured as much, but wanted to be sure.

 

[jostenmeat]

Dali, just make sure the receiver knows that there aren't any rear speakers connected, so that these channels will be rerouted to your side surrounds.

Oh yeah, make sure that you connect the side surrounds to the correct terminals, and not to the rear speaker terminals, hehe. If you made that mistake, compounded with the mistake of not letting the receiver know rears are to be disabled, you would be missing out on a lot of surround info meant for the sides, but perhaps not know it . . .